Golden Furnace Streamer
The patterns for flies designated as "streamers" are usually tied with
wings comprised of feathers, while those with hairwings have been called
"bucktails." Both of these terms have been accepted to indicate flies of a
type devised for wet fishing below the surface, and which have the common
characteristic, when wet, of assuming the streamlined appearance of the minnows
they are thought to represent. Rightfully, they can both be called "streamers."
For those who may be confused by finding that a hairwing fly called a "bucktail"
may not contain any deer hair at all, or may contain both hair and
feathers, I shall refer to the streamer flies illustrated as "feather-wing" and "hairwing,"
which they unquestionably are.
In both the accepted categories there is a wealth of patterns, ranging from simple
construction to elaborate multimaterial and multicolor designs, yet all of them will,
in the water, appear to have a sleek and minnowlike form. All have long wings, and
while the proportion of wing to hook may vary greatly with different patterns, the
undulating motion of hair-or feather-wing, as the fly is worked in the water by rod
action or water current, has proved the undeniable worth and attractiveness of this
fly form for underwater fishing.
. . .Bodies of the streamer-type flies may be weighted or not, depending on the circumstances
under which they will be used, and on the preference of an individual fisherman. Some
western patterns have all-metal bodies made by winding fairly soft wire, of a desired
dimension, arund the hook, tapering the cut ends and binding them with lacquered windings.
Other bodies may have soft lead-wire wound on the hook before an outer cover of floss or
tinsel is applied. These methods can be applied to any pattern popular in any locality.
The principal difference between the western and eastern streamer is found in the angle at which
the wing is tied. To cope with the bigger, swifter water of the western streams, the wing may be
raised as much as 45 degrees to achieve maximum wing action. Eastern preference is for a wing
that lies close to the hook - which may even cover the hook. There are exceptions to this, of
course, in both cases. Throughout the country the angle of the wing may vary anywhere between
those two extremes. All have been found sucessful under various circumstances.
Hook: TDE 3xL size 1/0 through 10. Mustad 9672 or Mustad 389441.
Thread: Danville 6 black unithread.
Tag: Gold flat tinsel.
Tail: Golden-pheasant tail feather (or dark mottled turkey).
Body: Bright orange floss.
Rib: Gold flat tinsel.
Throat: Light golden-brown furnace hackle.
Wing: Two pairs of red-gold furnace hackles.
Shoulders: Juncle-cock eyed cape feathers.